Speed tool with guide pin



June 17, 1969 J. GALLO, SR

SPEED TOOL WITH GUIDE PIN Sheet Filed July 13, 1967 FIG. 5. 7 Fl 2/4 FIG. 7:

INVENTOR. 64440, Se, Maw/45m (JO/70V June 17, 1969 GALLQ 5 3,449,988

SPEED TOOL WITH GUIDE PIN Filed July 13, 1967 JNVENTOR. L/O/ /A/ G44 4 0, Se.

BY WMLZQ United States Patent U.S. CI. 81-90 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A speed fastener of the bolt type having a central aperture which includes a threaded portion and a plurality of eccentric apertures in the head of the driver, a cap for BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to fasteners such as bolts and the like and to drivers for such fasteners.

Description of the prior art Tools are known in the prior art which include a center guide pin which is resiliently biased for locating the center of a screw or a bolt, such as that shown in United States Patent No. 847,774. Devices are known in the prior art for holding a screw to the end of the drivers such as by a threaded member as disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,007,107 and by a magnet as disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,808,862. Special tools for specialized applications which include a center guide pin which is resiliently biased are also known such as that shown in United States Patent No. 1,944,596. A driver and a combined driver and fastener wherein the fastener may be supported by a guide pin on the driver and are of general utility have not heretofore been disclosed. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a driver and fastener of general utility.

Fasteners are known in the prior art which are provided with a central aperture. Such fasteners are satisfactory in some applications but frequently the central aperture and other apertures become clogged with dirt, grease, and the like, and it is difiicult or impossible to insert the driver therein for removing the fastener. Accordingly, it is an additional object of this invention to provide a cap which may be threadedly received to cover the head of a fastener.

SUMMARY In brief, and without intending to limit the scope of the invention, a fastener of the type having a threaded shank, a head, a central aperture which may be threaded in the head, and at least one eccentric aperture and, preferably, a surrounding annular protective rim and a driver for the fastener which includes a tubular member with fingers extending from one end and a supporting guide pin member slidably received in the tubular member for supporting and driving the fastener and a cap for the fastener for maintaining the apertures therein free from debris constitute important objects of the invention.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved combination driver and fastener wherein the fastener has a central aperture and the driver has a central guide pin for supporting the fastener and is provided with fingers for driving the fastener.

An additional object is the provision of a fastener and 3,449,988 Patented June 17, 1969 ice a cap for the fastener to prevent the entry of debris into apertures in the head thereof.

A specific construction of the fastener, the driver, and the cap for the fastener as illustrated and disclosed herein constitutes specific objects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a side view of the driver of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view in cross section showing the internal construction of the driver of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along lines 22 in the direction of the arrows as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the fastener of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the shank and head of a preferred embodiment of the fastener of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the driver of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is a side cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 66 in the direction of the arrows as shown in FIGURE 5 illustrating the internal construction of the driver of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the driver of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the fastener of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the alternative embodiment of the fastener of this invention.

FIGURES 10, ll, 12 and 13 illustrate the steps in utilization of the fastener of this invention including the placement of the protective cap on the fastener.

FIGURE 14 is a side view in cross section showing the fastener of this invention and the protective cap in place therein, the protective cap being shown also in cross section.

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of the cap of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a tool in the form of a driver which includes a tubular member 102 which is provided at one end with a plurality of fingers 104 extending therefrom. A handle or driving portion 106 is secured in one end of the tubular member 102 by a pin 108. A handle may be provided on the driver portion 106 simply by drilling a hole therethrough and placing a rod through the hole, if preferred.

A shoulder 110 is provided on the interior of the tubular member by having a larger and a smaller passageway therethrough. Shoulder 110 engages a retaining ring 112 on a slidably received guide pin member 114 which is mounted for reciprocable movement in the tubular member 102. The keeper ring 112 and the shoulder 110 serve to retain the guide pin in the tubular member, The guide pin member 114 is also provided with a shoulder 116 and a guide portion 118. A compression spring 120 is received around the guide portion 118 and abuts against the shoulder 116 and is received in an aperture 122 in drive member 106. The compression spring 120 serves to resiliently bias the guide pin to the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 wherein the end portion normally protrudes from the same end of the tubular member as the fingers 104 extend from. Thus the guide pin and the fingers cooperate as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The protruding end of the guide pin member 114 includes a frustoconical portion 124 and, extending from the smaller end thereof, a cylindrical portion 126.

As illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the driver of FIG- URES 1 and 2 is intended for use with a fastener 300 of the type which includes a threaded shank portion 302, a head 304, the head being provided with an outer annular rim 306, an inner ring 308, a plurality of eccentric apertures 310, and a central aperture 312 which is provided with a tapered portion 314. In use, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the tapered portion 314 receives the frustoconical portion 124 of driver 100. In a preferred embodiment the central aperture includes a threaded portion 316 and an unthreaded portion 318, the latter receiving the cylindrical portion 126 of the driver 100.

An alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the driver 200 comprises a tubular member 202 which is provided with a shoulder 204 between a larger and smaller passageway therethrough. Keeper ring 206 on guide pin member 208 pmvents removal of the guide pin from the tubular member 202. A cylindrical end portion 209 is provided on the guide member 208.

Compression Spring 210, which is held in place by a threadably received cap 212, biases the guide pin member into the protruding position shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Thus, the protruding end of the resiliently biased guide pin 208 cooperates with a plurality of fingers 214, which extend from the tubular member 202, in driving the fastener. A knurled portion 216 and a drive portion 218 are provided at one end of the drive 200 and a smaller portion 220, for access in areas of limited space, is provided at the other end of the driver adjacent the fingers 214.

The knurled portion 216 of driver 200 and the knurled portion 128 on driver 100 may be used for hand setting of the fastener and the drive portions 218 on driver 200 and 130 on driver 100 may be used for being received in a chuck or the like for machine driving.

FIGURES 8 and 9 show an alternative embodiment of a fastener which may be used in areas where space is at a premium. The fastener 400, illustrated in FIGURE 9, includes a threaded shank, a head 404, the head 404 being provided with a central aperture 406 and a plurality of receiving notches 408 which are adapted to receive the fingers 214.

The manner of use of the fastener 300 and of the driver 100 will be illustrated with respect to FIGURES 10 through 13, the latter figure also illustrating the use of a cap 500. It will be understood, however, that by appropriate adjustment of sizes and shapes the same manner use would be applicable to the embodiment of FIGURES and 6.

As illustrated in FIGURE 10, the fastener 300 may be supported on the end of the driver 100 for insertion into a threaded passageway or aperture. In this position, the fingers do not engage the eccentric openings in the head and therefore the fastener is not being; driven. The tapered portion of the central aperture very materially assists in locating the fastener, especially in the dark or where direct vision is precluded.

As illustrated in FIGURE 11, once the fastener 300 has been received in a threaded passageway the driver 100 is pressed forwardly and the fingers on driver 100 engage in the eccentric openings in fastener 300 and the fastener may be rotatably driven.

As illustrated in FIGURE 12, the driver then is selfreleasing because of the biased relationship between the guide pin and the tubular member which comprise fastener 100.

As illustrated in FIGURE 13, it may be desirable to maintain the head of the fastener free from debris such as dirt, grease, and the like. This is accomplished through the use of a cover 500 which, as illustrated in FIGURES 14 and 15, comprises a cap portion 502, a threaded portion 504 which may be secured by an imbedded keeper portion 506 and a surrounding flange 508 for being received around the outer periphery of the head of the fastener. Since the cap may be easily threaded on by hand, no difficulty is faced in the removal of the cap. In addition, if desired, the entire cap and the threaded portion may be made of a plastic material such as nylon for preventing rust and assuring fingertip removal of the cap. Since the apertures in the head of the fastener are maintained in a clean condition the driver is easily received therein and the tightened fastener may be easily removed.

As illustrated, the driver of this invention is intended for use with power driven tools of the type which include a chuck. This is not, however, necessary since the driver may be used by hand or with any type of tool simply by obvious modifications in the shape of the driving portion or the addition of a handle of any desired configuration and construction.

It will be noted then that the driver can be utilized very effectively to reach fasteners in areas where the mechanic must work by touch. Even when the mechanic cannot actually reach the fastener with his hand he can easily find the proper location and position the driver in the fastener because the center guide pin naturally tends to slip into position in the center of the fastener and it is a simple matter to press the driver and locate the drive fingers in the eccentric apertures in the head of the fastener. Thus, the mechanic may work much more rapidly and with greater ease and certainty with the invention as hereinbefore disclosed than with the fasteners of the prior art.

It will be understood that While the invention has been directed to and discussed with reference to machine bolts of the usual design, the invention contemplates the use of the tool and the head construction for wood screws, metal screws, self threading, screws for plastics, etc. Any type of bolt or screw or equivalent device would fall within the contemplation of the present invention.

It will be understood that while the invention has been disclosed, and the disclosure has been abstracted and summarized with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed that the scope and spirit of the invention extend to such modifications as may be made in the light of the present teachings.

I claim:

1. A speed tool for rotatably driving bolts and the like of the type which include a head portion having a central cylindrical aperture extending inwardly and at least three spaced apart arcuate apertures concentrically arranged around said central aperture in said head portion, the tool comprising:

a tubular member having an upper and a lower end, said upper end being cylindrical in configuration and having a passageway portion of a first diameter therethrough, said cylindrical portion being constructed and configured to form means for being received in the drive chuck of a driving machine, said lower end having a passageway portion communicating with the aforesaid passageway portion and having a second diameter less than the first diameter, a shoulderbeing formed in said member by the intersection of said passageway portions;

at least three arcuate fingers extending from the lower end of the tubular member, said fingers being substantially equally spaced, constructed and disposed for being received in the arcuate apertures of said bolt;

an elongate guide pin slidably received in the lower passage portion, said pin having one convexly arcuate end normally extending from the lower end of the tubular member, said end being constructed and disposed relative to the fingers for being snugly received in the central aperture in said bolt;

a frusto-conical portion, said portion tapering inwardly from the diameter of the guide pin to the cylindrical end portion;

a cylindrical portion on the smaller end of the frustoconical portion for engaging the central aperture of a bolt for supporting the bolt thereon;

a keeper proximate the other end of said guide pin for engaging the shoulder in the tubular member for limiting outward movement of said pin;

a compression spring received around said pin in the first named passageway portion having one end in engagement with said keeper; and

means engaging the other end of the compression spring, said engaging means, keeper and spring c0- operating to resiliently bias the pin normally outwardly such that the one end normally extends outwardly of the lower end of the tubular member beyond the ends of the fingers on said tubular member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 847,774 3/ 1907 Hoffman 8545 874,543 12/ 1907 Scheuer 8190.4 1,007,107 /1911 Hulsmann 8545 FOREIGN PATENTS Belgium. Germany. Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES German application May 1956, A30IIb/87a.

MARION PARSONS, JR., Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

